Further Education Student

You can use a qualification from a Further Education and Training (FET) or Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) course to apply for entry to a course in ATU.

The qualification you receive from your FET/PLC course will depend on the type of course you have chosen. Many of the one-year courses offer Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) accreditation at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications, while other more advanced courses may offer a QQI Level 6 qualification. 

You can use these qualifications to apply for entry to Year One or Year Two of ATU courses at the Galway and Mayo campuses as follows:

• To view a full list of all full-time undergraduate degree courses  

1. Admission to year one

You should apply for admission to Year One if you hold a QQI Level 5 qualification, or a QQI Level 6 qualification that does not map to the course in ATU you want to apply for.

You must apply through the CAO and meet the Minimum Entry Requirements listed below.

You are then assigned points.  Download details of how the points are allocated below.  

QQI FET award holders are ranked for admissions with other applicants, and places are allocated based on points achieved. 

We reserve up to 5% of places for QQI/FET award holders.

Please also note that a FET qualification is not accepted for entry onto either the BSc (Hons) in Education (Design, Graphics & Construction) or the BEd (Hons) in Teacher Education (Art, Design and Graphics).

Minimum Entry Requirements

A pass in any QQI FET Major award at Level 5 or 6 meets the minimum entry requirements for Higher Certificate or Bachelor Degree (Level 6 or Level 7) programmes. 

A pass with distinction grade in at least three components in any QQI FET Major Award at Level 5 or 6 meets the entry requirements for honours bachelor degrees (Level 8) with the exception of nursing degree programmes.

From 2020-21, QQI FET applicants for engineering programmes in ATU must have completed awards including a Mathematics module (5N1833, 6N3395, 5N18396, 5N0556 or 5S2246) or LCE maths.

For consideration for progression to Nursing degree programmes, applicants must meet the following specific requirements:

A pass with FIVE distinctions in one of the following Linked QQI FET Level 5/6 awards:

• CCHSN/5M4349 (Nursing Studies)
• DCHSX/5M4468 (Community and Health Services)
• DHSXX/5M4339 (Healthcare Support)
• 5M3782 (Health Service Skills)

PLUS a pass with distinction in each of the following modules:

• D20001/5N0749 (Anatomy and Physiology),
• D20012/5N4325 (Introduction to Nursing Theory and Practice), and
• D20032/5N1279 (Human Growth and Development) or
• C20006/5N2746 (Biology)

How to Apply - Year One Entry

You need to apply for admission to Year One through the CAO, using your FET qualification. 

To check requirement for QQI FET entrants please consult the CAO website here, where you will find entry requirements, information on the scoring scheme and a video guide

2. Admission to Year Two (Advanced Entry)

If you hold a QQI FET Level 6 major award, you are eligible for consideration to enter directly into the second year of related courses in ATU Galway-Mayo

Eligible Courses for Advanced Entry

ATU Galway-Mayo have mapped many QQI FET Level 6 courses in the region to allow advanced entry to certain ATU courses

QQI FET Level 6 Awards

Holders of QQI FET level 6 awards are eligible for consideration for progression to Stage 2 of agreed cognate programmes e.g. Bachelor of Business (Levels 7/8).

Holders of QQI FET level 6 awards in certain Furniture/Design courses and QQI FET level 6 Advanced Craft Certificates in Cabinet Making and Carpentry and Joinery are also eligible to apply for admissions to Stage 2 of the level 7 programmes in furniture in Letterfrack.

All applicants for advanced entry to programmes in Furniture Design and Manufacture and Furniture and Wood Technology will be interviewed and must pass a practical assignment before being offered a place in Year 2.

If your course is not included on the mapping, you may still apply directly to ATU to see if you are eligible for advanced entry.

How to Apply - Year Two Advanced Entry

You can apply for advanced entry via our Application Portal.

You can apply from early January– even if you have not completed your current course of study. When you have completed your study, please submit your transcripts when they become available to you.

Please note that ATU Galway-Mayo will only accept verified transcripts or statement of results containing a college logo or stamped by a college. You can submit results by email to admissions.galwaymayo@atu.ie

Application Timeline:

• Application portal opens: Early January
• Closing date: 31st May
• Transfer Offers Issued: From July
• Acceptance of Offer: 2 weeks from receipt of offer by email
• Commencement of Academic Year: September

Offers will be made to FE applicants in Round Zero (normally early August).